Learn about…. CloudworksA new space for sharing and discussing

learning and teaching ideas

Gráinne Conole, Open University, UKLearn About Fair, 10th February 2010

What, why, how, where, when…

What is it? Why was it developed? How does it work? Where had it been used so far? When might you use it?

Cloudworks: sharing teaching practice

A space for sharing and discussing learning and teaching ideas and designs

Application of the best of web 2.0 practice to a teaching context

Iterative development and evaluation – based on use

Part of OU Learning Design Initiative Juliette Culver – developer

Why was it developed?

Aim To bridge the gap

between technologies and use

Issues Lack of uptake of

technologies in education Teachers say they want

examples/want to share/discuss

New skills needed for engaging with new technologies

Key concepts

Clouds: core objects in Cloudworks

Cloudscapes: collections of clouds

Activity streams: dynamic filters of new activity

Follow and be followed: Personal activity stream

and peer recognition

Homepage

Active clouds Feature cloudscapes Orientation

Search Browse Login User panel

Cloudstream

Clouds

Clouds: IdeasDesign or case studiesTools or resourcesQuestions or problems

Active clouds Current topics Hot issues Questions Flash debates Presentations

Cloudscapes

Learning about Cloudscape: Presentations 24 Clouds Twitter stream Recent activities

Space to Discuss Add Follow Collate Archive

Cloudstream

Show all Latest

Clouds Cloudscapes Discussion Links References Extra content

Follow & be followed Similar to following in

twitter Can follow cloudscapes &

people Indicates things & people

you are interested Anything you follow

appears in your personal cloudstream

Digital trails and pathways

Filtering – personalisation and tailoring RSS feeds for people and cloudscapes Different levels of email alert Activity streams

Public activity stream (all activities on the site), Cloudscape activity streams, User activity streams

Tabbed views – all, clouds, cloudscapes, comments links, references, extra content

Serendipity Active clouds on home page Featured cloudscapes on home page Browse clouds, cloudscape, tags, people Search for keywords

Individuals, collectives, communities

Views from 158 countries Users:

Teachers (from K-12, tertiary, independent) Researchers Educational technologists/support staff Policy makers Researchers Learners

Characteristics Boundary crossing Multi-purpose, different motivations Lurking through active participation

Uses and benefits

Events: conferences and workshops ETUG workshop, 20th-21st October 2009 http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloudscape/view/1903

Discussions: Flash debates The changing nature of conferences http://cloudworks.ac.uk/cloud/view/2577

Eliciting expertise and open reviews Literature review of Web 2.0 use in Higher Education http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloudscape/view/1895

Aggregating resources Personalising formal learning with technology http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloudscape/view/1871

Use at the OU

Sharing of practice Showcase of

innovation Keeping up to date ‘Active record’ of

events Space for discussion Collective intelligence ‘Flash debates’ ‘Open reviews’ Cross-community for

researchers

Some stats….Aspect Everyone Team Non-team

Cloudscapes 189 83 106

Clouds 1716 1112 604

Comments 2739 898 1841

Links 2369 1488 881

1819 registered users

Added Sept.

From 158 countries

New features!

Recently added Tag users Events Deadlines Sections

Coming soon… Voting, ‘influence’

Flickr images

Masai http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcsamsom/2316324361/